Switch plug



Patented Feb. 21, 1092s.

1,660,017 PATENT oFFIcE.

UNITED STATES I'OSEPIIFi SCHOENFELD, OF IJAIBLIEDA., CALIFORNIA.

SWITCH PLUG.

Application liiled. April 13, 1925. Serial No. 22,622.

provided with a pair of prongs which are inserted in the socket when the circuit is made. No trouble is encountered in making the insertion where the end of the socket is plainly visible. It, however, often happens that sockets are placed overhead, for instance, on electric fixtures, or are attached l5v to the baseboard of a room and may be partially hidden or obstructed by furniture, etc.

In either instance it is difficult to insert the plug as the 'socket may not only be awkward to reach but the openings formed in` the socket for the-reception of the plugs may be in a position where they 'can vnot be seen. Under such conditions, patience is the main requirement as the person attempting to insert the plug will have to try time and again before the proper register and insertion is accomplished.

The object of the present invention is-to generally improve and vsimplify the construction and operation of switch plugs, such as described, andv particularly to provide a socket so constructed that the prongs in the plug are automatically guided or directed into the openings formed for their reception when the circuit is to be made.

One form which the invention may assume is exemplified in the accompanying drawings,- in which Fig. l is a side elevation of socket and plug, said side elevation being partially in section.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation Vof the socket, said elevation being partially broken away, and said elevation being taken at right angles to that shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the socket.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the socket.

Referring to drawings in detail, and particularly to Fig. 1, A indicates in general a standard form' of socket and B the plug. The socket is provided with a pair of separated openings as indicated at 2 and 3 and with a pair of contacts 4 and 5 which-are connected with a threaded shell 6 and a central contact 7 in the usual manner. The

plug proper is usually provided with an extension cord as shown at 8 and a pair of separated prongs 9 which are inserted in the openings 2 and 3 when a circuit isto be established. The majority of switch plugs now in use -,are comparatively difiicult to connect, particularly when they'are placed in a positionv which is awkward to reach, and it is also difficult to make aconnection or proper insertion when theopenings in the socket assume a position where they can not be seen. The purpose ofthe pres- -ent invention is to overcome this diiculty by providing a series of guiding or directing surfaces which will automatically guide the prongs into the openings 2 and 3 when connection is to be made. This is accomplished as follows: Formed on the outer end of the socket is an annular collar generally indicated at C, and formed interiorthereof area plurality of deflecting surfaces generally indicated at 10-10 and ll-11, forming a single cavity of approximately truncated pyrarnidal shape, at the inner end or bottom of which are located the voblong openings 2 and 3. The inclined defiecting surfaces ll are longer than the inclined deiiecting surfaces l0 and extend across the short sides or` ends of the parallel oblong openings y2 and 3 and terminatethereat.

The narrow inclines guiding surfaces ll are located at the outer longer sides of the openings 2 and 3 and terminate thereat. These surfaces are disposed at an angle of approximately 45 and are substantially fiat,- rounded corners or fillets being formed as indicated at l2 where the several flat surfaces meet.

A socket provided with defiecting surfaces such as here indicated is exceedingly c'on-` venient and practical in actual operation as it is a simple matter to insert the prongs into the plug when the circuit is to be made.

It is only necessary to place the prongs, for instance, in the position shown in Figs. l and 3 and then to exert an inward pressure and at the same time to AYgive the plug a slight turning movement in either direction. This causes the ends of the prongs to move downwardly on the flat surfaces and they are thus automatically deflected or directed into the openings 2 and 3 provided for their reception. The fiat surfaces lO-lO and ll-ll are inclined surfaces as previously stated. It is for this reason that they deflect or guide the prongs .into the openings.

`Actual experience has proven that it makes no difference whether the position .of the socket is'aWkWard to reach or not, and experience hasalso proven that it is vnot necessary to see the openings in the socket when inserting the plug. It is only ,necessary to place the prongs against the inclined surfaces previously referred to and then to exert a slight inward pressure and simultaneously to transmit a turning movement. This operation always insures registration of the prongs in the openings and theplug is thus quickly inserted. A

.While certain features of the present invention are more or lessl specifically illustrated, I Wish it understood that various changes in foi-in and proportions may be resorted to Within the scope of the appended claims, and similarly that the materials and finish of the several parts employed may be such as experience and judgment of the manufacturer may dictate.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. In a switch of the character-described, a plug and a socket, said plug having a pair of interspaced prongs and said socket having a pair of interspaced rectangular shaped openings formed therein for the reception o the prongs, an extension on the socket and -lon the end of which the openings are formed,

and a plurality of inclined guidinv faces formed on the extension adjacent said openings and terminating therein, said faces forming a single cavity of approximately truncated pyramidal shape With the interspaced openings at the inner end thereof, the inclined faces being adapted to direct the prongs ofthe plug into the openings when an inward pressure is exerted on the plug.

2'. In a switch of the character described, a plug and a socket, said plug having a pair of interspaced prongs, and said socket having a pair of interspacedv openings formed therein' for the reception of the prongs, a

vplurality of surfaces formed in the socket, and on vthe end of which the openings are formed, said surfaces terminating in the openings and being disposed at an angle of substantially and said inclined surfaces forming a. single cavity of approximately adapted to be inserted in .said openings, a

pair of opposed inclined lsurfaces formed in the socket and extending acrossthe short ends of the rectangular openings, a pair of opposed inclined surfaces formed in the plug f the rectangular shaped openings, and Ja rounded fillet connecting the several opposed inclined surfaces, the'latter forming a single inwardly tapered truncated cavity.

4. In a switch of the character described, a plug and a socket, said socket having a pair of parallel interspaced elongated rectangular shaped openings formed'therein, a pair of prongs on the plug adapted to be insei-ted in said openings, a pair of opposed inclined surfaces formed in the socket and terminating at and extending across the short ends of the rectangular shaped openings, and a second pair of opposed inclined surfaces formed in the plug and terminating at the' outer long sides of the rectangular shaped openings, said inclined surfaces 'and terminating at the outer long sides of l forming a single inwardly tapered trun- 

